Universal joint



Jan, 27, 1925.

3.` R. SHQRT UNIVERSAL JOINT Filed May 19 1922 www,

Il?" in) Patented dan. 27, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES R. SHORT, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIG-NOR TO GENERAL MOTORS RESEARCH CORPORATION, OF DAYTON, OI'IIO, A. CORPORATTON OF DELAWARE.

UNIV ERSAL JOINT.

Application filed May 19,

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES R. SI-ion'r= a Subj ect of the King of Great Britain, residing at Dayton, county of Montgomery, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in UniversalV Joints, of which the following 1s a full,.

clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to universal joints and one object of the present invention is to improve the method of construction of such connecting mechanism and to reduce to a minimum the total number of parts and the number of different parts required, thereby to facilitate assembling and to bring about economy of manufacture.

A further object is to improve the means for supplying lubricant to a universal joint, and for retaining the lubricant within the joint and for excluding dirt and dust from the joint.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of the assembled joint.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a section view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 4

Fig. 4 is a side view of the spider.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 6.

Fig. G is a side view of the retaining cup.

Fig. 7 is a section view of a thimble.

Fig. 8 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 9 is a side view of a pin; and

Fig l0 is an end view thereof.

Referring to the drawings, the joint includes yokes and 2l having hubs 22 and 23 respectively adapted to be connected with shafts (not shown). Each yoke has arms 24 which are bored out at right angles to the axis thereof to receive thimbles 25 closed at their outer ends, said thimbles having` flanges 26 which space the spider 30 from the arms of the yokes.

Spider 30 is provided with a central recess 31 and with four side holes 32 having 1922. Serial No. 562,180.

their axes at right angles to each other and to the axis of the spider, and in the same plane and intersecting the axis of the spider. In assembling the joint, the thimbles 25 are inserted in the arms and have preferably a press fit. The spider 30 is inserted between the flanges 26 of the thimbles, as shown in Fig. 2, and pins 33 are inserted one at a time within the recess 31 and each is moved radially outwardly into the holes 32 and thimbles 25. Each pin 33 is provided with a semicylindrical extension 34, which, when the pin is assembled projects into the recess 3l for a purpose to be described. Each extension 34 is provided with a semiannular groove 35. vided with lubricant ducts 36 and 37.

After' the pins 33 are assembled as shown in Fig. 2 a recess cover or retaining cup 38 is secured within the recess 3l by means of va screw 39 passing through hole 40 in said cup 3S and having engagement with a tapped hole 4l in spider 30. The recess 3l having previously been packed with grease the cup 38 serves also to retain such lubricant within the oint. By centrifugal force and capillary attraction this lubricant is i caused to move out through passages 36 and 37 in pins 33 to lubricate the latter.

To disassemble the joint, the screw 39 and cup 38 are removed, and then the pins 33 are removed one at a time. Each pin is only slightly shorter than the mean diameter of the recess 3l, hence it is necessaryv to turn a pin in pulling it out so that its eX- tension 34 is located 1.300 away, in angular location, from the extension 34 of the op- "l posite pin. Then before this first pin 33 clears the spider, its extension 34 will be brought alongside the extension of said opposite pin. The reason for providing extensions 34 with the grooves 35 is so that some instrument such as a screwdriver may be used to pry the pins out into the recess 3l.

The spider 30 is provided with a tapped hole 42 which receives a plug 43. Lubricant may b-e introduced through this hole without disassembling the joint.

lVhile the form of mechanism herein shown and described constitutes a preferred form of embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that other forms Each pin 33 is prolll() i closed attlieir outer ends; of a-spidervhaving a central recess and radially extending openings arranged in quadrature; pins insertable into said recess and extending respectively through said openings and into said bearings; and inea-ii'sffor retaining said Vpins in position.

*2. yIn anniversal `joint, thecombination rivitli 'yokes :each f having alinedfbearings closed lat their outer lends; of a spiderfhavf ing4 a central recess and radially extending openings arranged vin quadrature; pins in- "sertable .intocsa'id lrecess land extending respectively through' said openings and into said "bearii'igs; 'and commonl 'means for retaining' said pins in'pos'ition.

A3. 'Inf a 'universal jointgthey combination with -yokes-eaclr having Aalined bearings closed'at' their outer-ends; of aspider having a c'ei'itr'al recessfandradiallyextending open- 'fi'iigs arranged in.quadraturmjpinsl insertable into lsaid recess and extending respec- "tivelythroiigli saidl Vopenings 'and into said bearings; and a recessfcl'os'ing member for "retaining :said 'pins 1n position. y

ll. In a.iir'iiversal`k go'int; the combination' with Vyokes each having alined Vbearings "closed ati their outer "ends; of a Espid'erhewinga central recess and radially extending openingsy arranged "in'quadraturey pins insertable V-into lsaid recess and" extending respectively throughsaid' openingsl and into said bearings; `a'recess cover Afor retaining said vpins in positionyand means for detacliably securing said; cover to said spider.

5.111 `a` universal'joint7 the'combin'ation with yokes peach having alined bearings closed 'at their outer ends;"of a 'spider having a. cylindrical central recess and radially extending openings arranged in quadrature; pins insertable into said recess and extending respectivelythrough'said Openings and into said bearings; a cup-shaped recess cover having a portion thereof projecting into said recess to retain the pins in position; and a screw extending through said cover a'i'idncross said recess and having threaded engagement With said spider.

'GIn/"a"universal joint, the combination With yokes each having alined bearings closed at theirou'terends; of a spider having Ia cylindrically :central recess and 'radialliY extending Openings arranged in quadrature; pins inserted into said recess and extending respectively through said openings and into" said bearings, yeach pin being slightlyl less `inlengtli 'thanlthe diameter of'the recess and including a groovedprtion extending -into then'ecessfsaid pin cxtensionsbeing preferably semi-cylindrical topermit withdrai'v'alot a pin'after its extension has been "turned out of alin'ement ivith the extension 'of the opposite: pin.

7. In a vuniversal joint, the combination with `'yolres "each having alined bearings closed at their outer ends; of a spider having *abyli'iidrically centrall recess and ral'dially extending openings' arranged in quadrature; pms insertedinto said recess and l:extending respe'c'tii'fely 'through said Open,-

iiigs and into said bearings, each pin having a duct for conduct-inglubricant from sai(- I recess to said bearings; and a vspider recess cover attached to'said spider to provide an f enclosure' for lubricant supply.

In testimony'whereof I hereto aflix my signature.

CHARLES R. SHORT. litnesses Gao. E. Pasco, Wim P; Pasco. 

